The first ever Tampa Bay Beer Week 2016 kicked off March 2012 when brewery owners and their brewers, beer distributors, home brewers and beer lovers in Tampa joined forces to make Tampa Bay Beer Week a reality. With 50+ beer-themed events a great idea was born and grew to over 750 events over the years. The mission of TBBW is to shine a light on Tampa's thriving craft beer industry by celebrating beer culture while showcasing Tampa Bay as a desired craft and specialty beer destination. This year TBBW runs from March 5th - March 13th. Please enjoy Tampa Bay Beer Week | Your Guide to 2016 Events, Tastings and More and let us know in comments below your plans for this week-long celebration and what you think about the events you attend!

Can't Wait? You don't have to!

Meet the Brewers takes place this Saturday (Feb 27) from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. when 20 local brewers get together to mingle with a small crowd providing you a unique opportunity to sample local brews while learning more about the passionate men and women behind the brands we love. Follow the link for ticket information and details about this unique event.

Following Meet The Brewers head over to Dunedin for the 15th Annual Stogies & Stout @ Dunedin Brewery from 7 - 11:00 pm. This celebration of dark beer, cigar smoke and live music is limited to 350 people so buy your tickets now!

Tampa Bay Beer Week | Your Guide to 2016 Events, Tastings and More

The OFFICIAL TBBW Kick Offtakes place at Pour House in the Channel District beginning Friday March 4th from 10:00 pm to Saturday March 5th at 2 am. 7venth Sun Brewery in Tampa and Dunedin, known for their sublime Belgian-style beers, IPAs, spirit barrel and sour beers, will be taking over the taps at The Pour House for the Tampa Bay Beer Week Kick-Off!

Ten events are on the calendar for Saturday March 5th with six on Sunday, March 6th including the hot-ticket Brewer's Ball. If you are a brewer, you WANT your beer poured at the Annual Brewer's Ball, where the Best Florida Beer category winners are showcased during an afternoon of live music, awards and great food at Water Works Park .

Ulele will be included in your ticket pricing for food, "Little Jimmy" Brisket, Seafood Potpie, and a vegetarian option are yours when you purchase your ticket, be sure to choose your ticket based on your menu choice! Doors open on the Ball at noon, the park closes at 5:00 which means attendees must leave the park before 5 pm. Don't fret however, the The Independent Bar and Cafe is hosting the Brewers Ball After Party 2016 beginning at 5 pm with specialty taps, hamburgers and brats, and Live music by Lauris Vidal.

Over the week and into the following weekend over 120 events are on the calendar for Tampa Bay Beer Week. Some of the events take place on a specific day, time and place while others are week long events, allowing you to stop in anytime during the week.

TheFlorida Brewers Guild Beer Fest 2016 takes place along the Hillsborough River in beautiful Cotanchobee ParkSaturday March 5th from 2-5:00 pm. A favorite event for beer lovers, this event is ticketed and raises money for the Florida Brewers Guild,a nonprofit guarding the rights of craft brewers. More than 50 Florida craft breweries are on tap to serve unlimited samples of more than 200 beers for Beer Fest this year, always fun, you do not want to miss this one. You must be 21+ to attend the festival!

A highlight on Monday, Mar 7th from 5 - 9:00 pm is the Green Bench Spotlighttaking place inside Champions Sports Bar at the beautiful Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. Green Bench Brewery will be at Champions Monday featuring limited releases with some light happy hour pairings during Green Bench Brewing Small Bites and Pints Party. Small bite plates will be paired with Green Bench’s Saison de Banc Vert, Dancing Chickens Belgian Strong (aged in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels), and Shopping Cart Cowboys, a limited release sour beer. A complete list of craft beers offered during TBBW at The Tampa Marriott can be found at the end of this article.*

Green Bench will be raffling a 15 person private tasting at Green Bench Brewery where you can meet the Master Brewer and learn more about Green Bench Beer. For each pint you purchase you receive a raffle ticket, WIN and you and 14 of your closest beer lovin' friends go on an exclusive tour of St. Petersburg's first craft microbrewery's 15 barrel Brew House! We will be at the Green Bench Brewing Small Bites and Pints Party, be sure to look for us! The Marriott's Digital Happy Hour is one of our favorite places to hang out for Monday Night Happy Hour!

Tampa's Marriott Waterside is The Official Distribution Center for Hunahpu’s Day #TapIntoWaterside to discover Tampa's local craft beers and learn more about thiis beer friendly hotel. As partners with Cigar City Brewing Tampa Marriott is giving away a two night stay at the hotel, a brewery tour and a $50 bar tab at Champions Sports Bar!

Also on Tuesday March 8th we recommend the Barley Mow Brewing Company, Keep the Pint Food Special. The brilliant chef's at Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina are crafting food specials to pairs with featured Barley Mow Brewery's Special Release Beer. Order a pint, keep the glass and enter to win a Brew Session at Barley Mow with the Head Brewer. This special event runs all day from 11 am to 9 pm. The Barley Mow rep will be on hand for giveaways fro 6 - 9 pm, the drawing will take place at 9 pm!

On Wednesday, March 9th we are looking forward to scavenging Gaspar's Patio Bar & Grille in Temple Terrace for clues left by Seth from Florida Beer Company, one of our state's leading craft breweries. Florida Beer Company has been in operation since 1997! Clues will lead you to treasures hidden in the bar, and good news...Gaspar's is on the list of Dog Friendly Bars in Tampa !

Do you like Trivia? In Ybor City Wednesday night at The Brass Tap you can enter the Trivia contest. Pair O' Dice Brewing in Clearwater will be taking over the taps and we are hoping they bring their newest release, a Belgian beer called Kyle's Grand Cru. Boasting an 8% ABV the brewers at Pair O' Dice say this beer bridges the gap between a traditional Belgian Dubbel and Tripel. We can't wait to give it a sip, or two, or three...and to hear what you think!

One of the highlights of Thursday night is Rapp Brewing Company's Beer, Brats and Pretzels night! The Brats and Pretzels and the craft beer from this Seminole, FL brewery are exceptional. A favorite is Greg Rapp's Belgian Golden Strong Ale, at over 10% A.B/V. this Rapp offering is mighty! Paired with Pretzels and Brats and you have the perfect way to spend a Thursday night!

Also on Thursday, March 10th Big Storm Brewing is hosting a Keep the Pint Burger Special at Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. Not sure about you, but we think the BEST thing to go with a tasty craft brew is a big juicy burger! On Thursday night, besides pure deliciousness you get to keep your pint glass and are entered to win a Brew Lover's Gift basket courtesy of Big Storm Brewing. The Burgers and Brews are available from 11 am - 9 pm. If you head over between 6 - 9 pm you can chat with Big Storm's rep, take advantage of their free giveaways and win the basket!

Friday night March 11th from 3 – 5:00 pm New World Brewery in Ybor City will host Tampa Bay Beer Week's first-ever BBQ Eat-Off contest. Champions are training to represent their breweries, offices, families and friends at New World's First ever BBQ eating contest. A referee will be standing by to ensure fair play as beer and BBQ lovers compete for what we hear is an usual and unique trophy! New World Brewery made the list of Dog Friendly Bars in Tampa | Drinking With Man's Best Friend so feel free to bring your four-legged friends and your appetite! New World makes a mean BBQ!

After the Eat-Off Friday Night plan on popping on over to Coppertail Brewery (near the IKEA) for the Mustache and Beard Face Off where the winner will receive a fancy new grooming kit with an exclusive beer package courtesy of Coppertail Brewing. The party starts at 5 pm and ends at 8 pm and it's FREE, all you need to do is show off your beautiful mug for a chance to win.

From 11 am - 4 pm Saturday March 13th is the SOLD OUT annual Hunahpu’s Day®. Thanks to the City of Tampa and Downtown Partnership this huge event will take place at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park in beautiful Downtown Tampa for the first time. If you are a ticket holder don't go to Cigar City. If you are NOT a lucky ticket holder the brewery and tasting room on Spruce Street will be open Saturday from 11:00 am-1:00 am, tours will be available during normal hours.

Didn't get in to Hunahpu’s Day®, it's OK, head over to Ybor City for some cold ones and grab a bite to eat before the The 12th annual Rough Riders St Patrick's Parade 2016. The parade starts at 7 pm and The Brass Tap | Centro Ybor will have some great food and beer specials in support Tampa Bay Beer Week Saturday. P.S. The Rough Riders kick off St. Patrick's Day Friday March 11th with The Rough Riders Trolley Hop 2016 , a 1500 person pub crawl through Ybor City and Tampa, beginning at 6 pm thru midnight. The festivities begin in 8 locations this year so no one location is overcrowded. 20+ Venues are on the list, this sells out so buy now! Price is $25 per person, or $200 for 10 tickets.

Sunday March 13th you have a choice of two Hanahpu Hangover events sponsored by 7eventh Sun in Tampa and in Dunedin and several Beer Brunches held across Tampa Bay bringing Tampa Bay Beer week sadly, yet officially to a close.

Be sure to check out the FULL CALENDAR of events (a year-long calendar of local craft beer events) and figure out your plan for attending as many events as you can this year!

Let us know below in comments where you went, what you saw, tasted and ate! What did you learn, were you surprised by anything?

Tampa Bay Beer Week is a must-visit for resident and visiting beer lovers in Tampa. Stay tuned as we keep you up-to-date with Tampa Bay Beer Week | Your Guide to 2016 Events, Tastings and More